Chapter 114: At 17, Sitting Like a Lackey

Madrid time, August 17.

Villarreal’s Estadio de la Cerámica.

This was Villarreal’s first official match of the new season, against Monaco, another team from the Wudaliansai .

This match was packed with stakes: Villarreal and Monaco would compete across two legs to determine who earned a spot in the new season’s Champions League!

Tang Ye picked up his jacket and sat down on the bench with Luo De.

This was Tang Ye’s first time stepping onto the team’s home pitch.

“What do you think of the Estadio de la Cerámica?”

Luo De leaned back in his chair as the crowd roared the team’s name in Spanish.

Hmm…

Tang Ye squinted, scanning left and right, then delivered his verdict: “Very yellow.”

“Hahaha!”

Luo De laughed. As Tang Ye said, the entire stadium’s theme was yellow—except for the pitch, every seat and exterior decoration was bright yellow.

“Now, I must proudly introduce the starting lineups for both teams in today’s match!”

The stadium announcer’s voice rang out as Tang Ye turned to look at the tunnel—both teams’ starters emerged together.

【At 38, you’ve entered the team’s Champions League playoff match, meaning you may become the first player in history to compete in the Champions League proper at age 38.】

【Successfully qualify the team for the Champions League: Save Piggy Bank】

Save Piggy Bank?

Hearing a completely unfamiliar term, Tang Ye’s first reaction was to search the system for a detailed description.

【Save Piggy Bank: After earning a chest from completing a task, you may temporarily refrain from opening it and instead upgrade it to a higher tier by completing more difficult tasks.】

Note: Each chest can be placed into the Save Piggy Bank only once. The Save Piggy Bank itself has no usage limit.

Holy shit!

Tang Ye finally understood—the so-called “middle-aged man’s Save Piggy Bank” was essentially a financial tool.

I’ve got a high-tier chest but I’m holding off on opening it, so I can do more tasks to earn a Star-tier chest!

Tang Ye had played with this before, but only under strict triggering conditions.

With this unlimited-use Save Piggy Bank, every chest he earned from now on could be upgraded before opening.

It was a perfectly designed item.

But such a perfect item came with an equally harsh requirement.

Villarreal had to eliminate Monaco across both legs!

Tang Ye turned to Luo De and whispered: “Sergio, can we beat Monaco?”

“Don’t worry—we’re definitely going to win!”

Luo De patted his chest in assurance.

As a former Villarreal U19 player, he knew the first team’s strength inside out!

Monaco? We’ll crush them.

“Good, good.”

Tang Ye exhaled in relief.

He still hadn’t unlocked his German high-tier chest. His plan was to wait until the team qualified for the Champions League, get the Save Piggy Bank, upgrade the high-tier chest to a Star-tier chest, then open it.

A German Star-tier chest—he guessed it would drop at least one player from the 2014 World Cup champion squad!

“We all live in a yellow submarine.”

“Yellow submarine.”

“Yellow submarine.”

“We all live in a yellow submarine…”

“…”

“VAMOS Villarreal!”

The home fans sang as the announcer read out both teams’ starting lineups.

Villarreal (4-4-2)

Goalkeeper: Asenjo

Defenders: Mario Gasspar, Mousquiao, Alfred N’Diaye, Kote

Midfielders: Castillejo, Trigueros, Bruno, Roberto Soriano

Forwards: Borre, Ale

Head Coach: Escrivá

Monaco (4-2-3-1)

Goalkeeper: Subasic

Defenders: Benjamin Mendy, Jemerson, Glik, Laji

Midfielders: Bakayoko, Fabinho, Bernardo Silva

Forwards: Mbappé, Germain, Diallo

Head Coach: Jardim

In terms of player market value, Monaco was slightly higher than Villarreal—but not by much.

Today’s match outcome would depend mostly on each side’s current form!

Sitting on the bench, Tang Ye stared at Monaco’s number 29, Mbappé, and his mouth dropped open.

Holy shit!

How could someone look exactly like a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle?!

But this Ninja Turtle was seriously impressive—just minutes into the match, Mbappé cut inside from the left flank and unleashed a powerful shot.

Villarreal’s goalkeeper Asenjo barely saved it!

“Oh!!”

The home fans grew anxious.

By the 10th minute, their prized possession—possession rate—was already trailing the opponent’s.

This was unacceptable to Villarreal’s players!

Fabinho cleared the ball out of bounds, and the broadcast seized the moment to zoom in on Tang Ye and Luo De on the bench.

Two newcomers: one was the assist king loaned from Utrecht by head coach Escrivá; the other was Villarreal U19’s prodigy defensive midfielder.

No one knew if either of these two rookies would get playing time.

Chinese fans watching the screen reacted with wild excitement upon seeing Tang Ye.

Tang the King had led Utrecht to Champions League qualification.

Could he help Villarreal too?

In the 26th minute, Villarreal captain Bruno’s mistake gave Bernardo Silva an opening.

Silva pounced, played a direct pass to the left flank.

Mbappé surged forward!

“Ugh!”

Tang Ye sat on the bench, his gum nearly falling out of his mouth.

He’d just asked the assistant coach—who confirmed the Ninja Turtle was only about 17 years old.

Why could someone else be this fast at 17?!

Mbappé’s speed was terrifying—he covered the distance to the endline in a few long strides.

He controlled the ball but didn’t pass immediately.

He chose to cut inside himself!

Mousquiao retreated step by step, waiting for the moment to intercept Mbappé’s pass.

Mbappé drove into the edge of the penalty area.

A curler?

It was a driven shot!

Mbappé looked toward the far post—but actually fired at the near corner.

The Ninja Turtle’s feint fooled goalkeeper Asenjo—Monaco took the lead!

“GGGGOOOOLLLLLL！！！！”

“Kylian Mbappé!”

Mbappé sprinted to the corner flag, celebrating with his teammates.

Villarreal’s bench fell silent.

Tang Ye turned to Luo De: “Sergio, can we still win this?”

Tang Ye now felt the pressure.

The Save Piggy Bank was clearly a vital item.

If the team didn’t qualify for the Champions League, he’d never get it!

“We can win!”

Despite being down one goal, Luo De still showed absolute faith in his teammates!

The match continued as head coach Escrivá frantically directed the players on the pitch.

Villarreal was certainly not easy to beat; in the 40th minute, their new signing A Lai received a cross in the center of the box and slotted it into the net.

“VAMOS!”

Rodrigo clenched one fist: “See? I told you, Tom, it’s just Monaco—easy win!”

Tang Ye nodded; he had watched the goal closely.

You don’t feel it while playing on the pitch, but from the bench, it’s crystal clear.

Tang Ye’s new teammates all had exceptional passing, control, and movement—A Lai ’s goal was born from Villarreal’s relentless passing and positional play!

Leaning back in his chair, he took a small sip of the sports drink on the ground.

Tang Ye had already prepared himself to coast to victory!

The second half began, and the first batch of substitutes returned to their seats.

Escrivá had González and Rukavina start warming up.

As for Tang Ye and Rodrigo.

Both still sat in their chairs.

On camera, Tang Ye handed Rodrigo a piece of gum: “Want another?”

Rodrigo took the gum.

【Damn Escrivá, I’d rather have Ten Hag—just put Tang the King on and the game’s over!】

【Poor Tang the King—dominating Utrecht, now stuck on Villarreal’s bench chewing gum】

【Aren’t they short on midfielders this season? Why not make a substitution?】

【Monaco hasn’t changed either—both teams fielded full starters. This match is too important; who doesn’t want the Champions League bonus?】

【According to records, this is Tang the King’s fifth piece of gum tonight】

【Fire Escrivá—Ten Hag would’ve won La Liga by now if he’d come to Villarreal】

【Don’t blame Escrivá—Monaco is truly strong. Villarreal’s signings are weak; he’d have qualified with any other team】

Chinese fans vented their frustration at Escrivá.

But honestly, there was nothing to be done—rational fans could see Villarreal’s main tactic tonight was pure possession.

The logic was simple: if Villarreal wanted to play possession, they absolutely could not field Tang Ye—otherwise, they’d be crippling themselves!

At the 76th minute, Bernardo Silva unleashed a long-range shot that opened the scoring!

Villarreal fell behind by one goal!

The camera returned to the bench—Tang Ye, the Utrecht prodigy attacking midfielder, and Rodrigo, Villarreal’s talented defensive midfielder, remained seated exactly where they were.

【At 17, sitting like a nobody!】

“Sergio, can we still win now?”

This was Tang Ye’s third time asking the question. Rodrigo watched the players sprinting across the pitch.

“I… I don’t know anymore...”

…

“Beep, beeeep—!!!”

Full time. Villarreal lost 1–2 to Monaco in the first leg of the Champions League playoff.

The home fans, once full of passion, fell utterly silent.

Dongqiu Di report: Champions League playoff first leg, Villarreal lost 1–2 at home to Monaco; Tang Ye sat the entire bench.

Dongqiu Di news: Monaco’s No. 29 looks just like a Ninja Turtle!

Marca: The worst loan of the summer window? The Dutch league’s assist king can’t even play for Villarreal—there’s a reason the Eredivisie isn’t as strong as La Liga!

Manchester Evening News front page: Prophecy fulfilled? Ten Hag once said Tom doesn’t suit La Liga’s style!

Tang Ye himself hadn’t expected that his inability to play in the Champions League playoff would give Ten Hag another surge of publicity.

The new Premier League season was about to begin, and global fans’ eyes were now fixed on Ten Hag.

Could the great Dutch sage lead Manchester United back to glory?

And how would he save his lost disciple, stranded in La Liga?

…

(End of Chapter)